Bacard cuts down a Blood Goblin as it
leaps at him. The thing is cleaved in two with the power of the crystal sword.
His head suddenly perks up as he senses something is wrong. He goes to move, but
he's too slow as a net of magical energy wraps around him. Even though he
struggles to break free, it does little good as the net composed of blue-green
magical energy keeps him well ensnared. The warrior mage from the Second Order
grabs a hold of the edge of the net and uses it to fling the captured Bacard
into a wall. Bacard growls, "Just wait until I get out of here!"
The warrior mage laughs, "Don't
expect to get out of there alive."
A smile forms on the face of Bacard,
"That's only because you don't know what I know."
Valice comes seemingly out of nowhere
and slices into the mage's arms. The warrior mage pulls back and screams in
pain. Quickly Valice gives him a kick the back of the knee forcing him down and
then lands the finishing blow to the back of the neck.
Even though he's free of the net he
still looks dazed for a moment as a result of hitting the wall so hard. He's
hunched over with one hand on the ground. Bacard laughs. "So what took you so
long?"
Valice scowls at him, "Can't you stay
out of trouble for even 5 minutes?"
With lightning fast reflexes Bacard
flings a dagger from his boot and throws it towards Valice. It hits another mage
warrior from the Second Order who dashed in behind Valice. Bacard now stands up
as if he's fine and remarks, "Can't you?"
Suddenly Bacard takes a hit to the
shoulder causing blood to squirt out and onto the nearby wall. He gives a slight
groan of pain. Valice looks about but isn't able to see anyone. His gaze turns
upwards looking for magical sniper. Bacard looks at the reaction of Valice and
shouts to him, "That was a blade! Someone else is here."
Valice replies, "But where? I can't
see anyone."
"Then," Bacard thinks for a moment.
Suddenly he shouts out, "Ilsa! I need light!"
Ilsa is caught off guard by the
request. She's about to question why, but then decides to just grant the request
instead. After just a few magic words she holds out her hands and forms a Globe
of Daylight. It reveals a Shadow-Walker creeping on the wall near Bacard. The
demonic servant looks ready to strike again and Bacard looks in no place to
avoid it. This time he may not be so likely to receive such a minor wound.
Before it can hit though, the Shadow-Walker suddenly bursts into flames and hits
the ground. Bacard looks to the source to see Elegon standing there. Elegon in
his noble attitude tells him, "You're so useless. You can't do a thing without
me."
Valice adds in jokingly, "I was just
telling him the same thing."
Bacard looks at both of them and then
pouts, "So you're both ganging up on me now, huh? Hmph ..."
Elsewhere in the city the fight
between Clos and the doll still continues. Clos finally knocks the doll to the
ground and looks as if he has the upper hand. Suddenly the doll transforms into
a human male. It is the same male that burst in on the meeting five years ago to
announce the new attack of a large wolf and increased the negative view of the
Esterlane family. The man smiles devilishly at Clos. Then he looks over the
bridge to a large group of people moving through the streets. Some of them are
citizens, but others are military troops. Now in the shape of a man, the doll
shouts out of them, "It's Clos Esterlane, the wolf! He's returned to kill us
all!"
Clos looks at him, "What?" Then he
looks over the bridge at the people. They are already starting to whisper and
rumor. His attention shifts back to his enemy.
The doll smiles and says just low
enough for him to hear, "What are you going to do now Esterlane?"
Clos grimaces, and then goes in for
the kill. Before he can make contact he is hit with two arrows. The impact
causes him to fall over. With a sinister laugh the transformed doll tells him,
"Well then Clos, I'll leave you to your old friends. There are still other
matters I must attend to." With that he starts run off.
Clos stands preparing to give chase,
but then looks back to the people. If he gives chase now the people will only
still try to kill him. After everything he's learned this night, he knows
they're not to blame. They were just manipulated, the same as he allowed himself
to be not long ago. Despite the fact it pains him to do it, he turns and runs
off in a different direction. As long as he can avoid the townspeople he won't
have to worry about fighting them.
Back down on the lower level Bacard
is talking with the others, "All right, if there are Shadow-Walkers lurking
about we'll need light. Fire-boy over there and Ilsa are our best chances at
avoiding more sneak attacks. If we split into two separate --"
Elegon interrupts, "I don't need any
help. This is my city. The three of you go for that plan and I'll take care of
things here." Elegon turns and walks away.
Bacard sighs and shakes his head.
"What an arrogant ..." He then turns to Valice, "Hey Val, go with him and watch
his back. I don't care what he says, he'll need backup."
Valice asks, "And what about you?"
With a smile Bacard replies, "Hey,
I'm Angel's bodyguard. I promised to respect him ... her ... whatever from harm.
If lover-boy over there gets killed, I'll have failed. I've got Ilsa, that's all
I need. Now go on."
Valice nods and then runs off to
catch up to Elegon. Bacard looks at Ilsa who is smiling at him. He just sighs,
"Oh ... just come on."
Ilsa teases him, "You need me."
"Oh just stop that!"
Back at the mansion of the Vunte
House, Zira is holding Bacice. Zira tries her best to smile at the young child,
but due to the burns it comes off just looking distorted and twisted.
A voice from behind her suddenly
calls out, "Just give me the child and you won't get hurt."
Zira turns to see the one foot doll
standing there. Instinctively she holds the baby elven girl closer to her body.
In her slow muttered voice she responds, "No ... I ... will ... not ... you ..."
The doll grins, "Well if you don't
let me then ..." Its hands turn into a sharp claw.
As it approaches a small spark erupts
in her eye.
